Drafting board device



Jul 2, 1935. H REmHAiRT 2,006,408

DRAFTING BOARD DEVICE Filed Dec. 50, 1952 7* PIE. 1

INVENTOR. JHMfJ fl. Ear/mm".

ATTORNEY-5.

Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f 2,006,408 7' I I nmn rmov BOARD "DEVICE 7 James H. Reichart, Muncie, Ind. Application December 30,1932, Serial No. 649,536

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in drafting appliances, particularly drawing boards provided with a straight edge operatively associated therewith and movable into parallel positions on the board.

The invention is particularly directed to an improvement upon a drafting appliance of the aforesaid character and said improvement consists in associating the means for insuring parallel.

movement of the straight edge with'a structure adapted to serve as a handle when in one position and to serve as a support when the board is to be supported in a tilted position.

One feature of the invention consists in providing the handle and support means with means for locking the support means in the desired adjusted position to insurethe desired tilted position of the board, which means in addition to the aforesaid, is automatically releasable .and returnable to an operative position.

Another feature of the invention consists in the particular formation of the straight. edge whereby the running or smearing of the ink wil not occur.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing the means associated with the straight edge which insures its parallel movement with means permitting the straight edge to be elevated from the surface of the board in its movement to pass. over a surface that has been previously inked and which'is not dry or over an obstacle such-as other drawing instruments, forexample,

. protractors, triangles and irregular curves, th

position'of which is to be maintained. l

Another feature of the invention consists in the combination foot rest support and theparallel movement mechanism support for the straight edgecas a unitary fixture. The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:-

In the drawing, Fig. lis a rear view of a drawing board provided'with a straight edge and with the invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a-drawing board with the invention applied thereto and with the parts of .the invention arranged in a position.sup-' strip of metal, the edges of which are .turned inf wardly as at 1.5 to form .a curved edge [6. .The

adapted to anchor the projecting end of the 5 straight edge to the adjacent upper run of "an endless construction, herein shown in theform of a link chain I9, the ends of which are con- 'nected by a closely coiled tension spring 20.

Adjacent each cornerof the board is mounted a sprocket wheel. The provision of the; coilten sion spring permits the straight edge to be moved transversely towards and away from the board surface and thus permits the insertion of drafting instruments, such as triangles, perpendiculars, irregular curves and the like, therebeneath or conversely the straight edge may be elevated from the surface of the board and repositioned in a position parallel to its original position and thus pass over a drafting instrument of the aforesaid characterthat might be upon the board) and thus avoid disturbing or moving said instrument.

It is also to be noted in Fig.2 that the linear edge portion 16 of the straight edge is in'effect. a curved arrangement (in cross-section) 1 and thus blurring or carrying of ink by thestraight edge is prevented. I v I Ateach of the lower corners upon the-under side of the boardis mounted .a strap 2| which is secured as by thescrews 22 and 23, the latter being longer than screwsZZand-being associated with a rubber cushion or, foot 24 and thus. the foot is simultaneously secured to the board with the bracket or strap 2 I.

The end of the strap 2| is curled as at 25 and is v clampingly curled around and tapped to receive the threaded portion 26 of a bolt 21 having the cylindrical portion 28' that mounts a sprocket wheel 29. The head of the bolt is enlarged as at 30 andprojecting therefrom is the wing portion 3|; The sprocket 29 hasthe hub portion-32 which'bears against one side edge of the strap 2|. By reason of the side clamping. action of the hub 32 and the clamping and threading action of portion 25, the wing portion of the. bolt, when engaged and-rotated; causes a clamping of the sprocket in the desired position. The chain is then prevented from running movement.

The'opposite corner of thelower edge is'similarly provided with a reversely positioned! construction. When both of the sprockets 29 are clamped, the straight edge cannot be moved appreciably across the board for positioning in any other parallel position, but the straight edge can beielevated from the surface of the board and this is permitted by reason of the inclusion of the tension springs in the chains.

At each of the upper corners of the board there is provided a strap construction 40 which may be doubled upon itself or formed of two pieces as at ll and these portions are riveted together as at 42. The end of the strap construction terminates in a loop 43 forming a support and a bearing for a shaft 44. The shaft extends parallel to the top edge] I of th'e'bbarld'and "projects" beyond the bearing"poi"tions 43 of the two 'spaced strap con structions 40. One end of the strap construction is secured to the top edge of the board as at 45? and the other end is secured to the back .of the board as at 45. The free end of the strap upon the back of the board is arranged in iloop formation as at 4'! for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

The projecting end d8 ofthe shaft Mmounts a sprocket 49 similar to sprocket 29 and having a hub-portion 50, and thesame is secured to the shaftjby' af set screw" 51; The shaft, therefore; rotat'es'fwhfeneverthe sprockets rotate and by reaso' uof the" shaft connection to both" sprockets; thejch'aiirwill advancein'either direction at a uniforhijr'ate; thereby insuring parallel move-- ofthe 'stra ight'edge; Iii-desired, one of thes p ockt's' hiay"be' riveted to the shaft andtheother rigid secured to the shaftin angularly ad justed 'si (in byjaset screw-arrangement. This permits? in tial positioning of" the straight edge that his will'be' parallel to the topedge of card. course, during all" parallel move-- vol' the'f straight edge, the bolts 2T areloos' hen the straight edge hasbeen propl e133 posi cried, the wings are engaged and the bdlts are tightened to clamp the sprockets against theriift iveir'ient. d ee s'trap'constructions 40 project beyond the j; the" traight edgemay be positioned beyond ardto permit the attachment of the work the board without straight edge discon- II'.

There is provided onthe back of the board a suitable number' of additional foot rests or rubber cushions, similar to those shown at 24, and

herein a single cushion is niedianly positioned near the top edgeof the board and supported upon thebackby the screw 52 which secures the c'ushi'or'i foot 53 thereto. In other words, a triangular cushioning support arrangement is pro-' vl'clejd, and this is the minimum "number of cushions that can be employed and these cushions are of a depth or hei'g'ht sii'flicient when the board is laid upon a flat surface, to provide clearance between said surface and all depending parts ofthe board and the apparatus associated therewith.

"r'n ere is provided a combination handle and 'stan lt is substantially Ll-shaped, having an 'elonga ed midportion '68 and two diverging arms '5], each terminating in a portion 52 that is parallel to the pgi'tion f6?) and is seated in the loop parties 41 of t e strap (at. It will be obvious-see Ei g l th'attHe handleport-ion iii! will sustain the load the board is to be carried and that the shaft cooperates with the midp'ortion 'or hand grip portion and "serves to insure a relatively rigid hafndlefarrahgiement.

fSli "ably sup drted on each of the idivergin portioris'or arin'sdl isa rnetal disc 63 and ipreferably each/diverging arm 61 is enlarged laterfilly a at l ifl to p vent the disc from sliding (in a p edeterrnined position on the diversg iar'in; The handle fportion "when "tilted away reason of the midportion B0, to bear upon a plane support and the two rubber feet 24 serve to support the board at its lower end, while the combination handle and support serves to support the upper end of the board in elevated relation so that the board is tilted in position as shown in Fig. 2. The degree of tilting is determinable by the position that the discs assume on the diverging arms and the discs are of such a diameter andxsuch a thicknessithapthe, more pressure there is applied ,to, ,the su1 face,..of the board, the greater will be the locking engagemerit of frictional lock between the board and the discs, and this in turn assuring the certainty of theilocki'ng of the combination handle and support in ethe desired position. i p All that is required when it is desired to releasethelocking-discs is to tilt the combination handlez-and support and shake it slightly until the discs slide along the diverging arms and c leanthetop edge of the board;

The invention claimed: is:---

13 In, combination with a drafting) board and, a" straight edge extending substar'itiallyl across the same, of means supporting saidw straight; edge remote from the' upper edge of the board including-a shaft substantially. parallelttothev board edge; and a u shapedl member pivotallysupported upon the back of: the board and: have in an elongated? midportionl positionable ad.-. 301 jacent the shaft for: simultaneous hands gripping for carrying: purposes and tiltabletheretrom for supporting the board in tilted relation.

2. In combination: with a drafting. board: and a straight edgeextending substantially across 6 the same; of means: supporting said: straight edge remote from the upper edge. ot the board including: a shaft: substantially parallel. to the board edge, a U -shaped member pivotally. sup.- ported upon the back of the boardrand having an elongatedmidportion positionable adjacent the shaft for simultaneous hand gripping for carrying purposes andtiltable therefrom foi supporting the board in tilted relation, and a bracket at each side edge of the board supporting said shaft and one end of the U-shaped meme ber. I

s 3. In combination with a drafting board and a straight edge extending substantially across the same, of means supporting said straight edge remote from the-upper edge of the board including a shaft substantially "parallel to the board edge, and a U-shaped member pivotally supported upon the back of the board and having an elongated midportion positionable adjacent theshaft for simultaneous hand gripping for carrying purposes and tiltable therefrom for supporting the board in tilted relation, the midportion of said U-shaped member being substantially straight for the purpose described.

4. In combination with a drafting board and a straight edge extending substantially across the same, of means supporting said straight edge remote from the upper edge of the :board including a shaft substantially parallel to the board edge, a U-shapedimember pivotal ly supported upon the back of the board and having an elongated vmidportionpositionable adjacent 'the -shs!ft for simultaneous hand gripping for carrying :purposes and tiltable therefrom for supporting the ':board in tilted relation, vand means associated with the U shaped member :for sustaining the :lU-shaped :member .in tilted relation relative to the board.

.means supported adjacent the other edge of the a straight edge extending substantially across the same, of 'means supporting said straight edge remote from the upper edge'of the board including a shaft substantially parallel to the board edge, a U-shaped member pivotally supported upon the back of the board and having an elongated midportion positionable adjacent the shaft for simultaneous hand gripping for carrying purposes and tiltable therefrom for supporting the board in tilted relation, and a pair of discs each slidably supported upon an arm of the U-shaped member and arranged'for cooperation with the back of the board for sustaining the U-shaped member in tilted relation thereto. I

- 6. In combination with a drafting board and a straight edge extending substantially across the same, of means supporting said straight edge remote from the upper edge of the board including a shaftsubstantially parallel to the board edge, a U-shaped member pivotally supported upon the backof the board andhaving an elongated midportion positionable adjacent the shaft for simultaneous hand gripping for carrying purposes and tiltable therefrom for supporting the board in tilted relation, and a pair of discs each slidably supported upon an arm, of the U-shaped member and arranged for cooperation with the back or the board for sustaining the U-shaped member in tilted relation thereto, each midportion having a lateral enlargement constituting a stop for limiting sliding movement ofthe discs.

7. In combination with a drafting board and a straight edge extending substantially across the same, of means supporting said straight edge remote from the upper edge of the board including a shaft substantially parallel to'the board edge, a U-shaped member pivotally supported upon the back of the board and having an elongated midportion positionable adjacent the-shaft for simultaneous hand gripping for carrying purposes and tiltable therefrom for supporting the board in tilted relation, a pair of discs each slidably supported uponan arm of the U-shaped member and arranged for cooperation with the back of the board for sustaining the U-shaped member in tilted relation thereto, and at least three cushion means disposed upon the back of the board and of sufiicient depth to support the board upon a plane surface without any of the mechanism carried by the back of the board engaging the supporting plane surface.

8. In combination with a drafting board and a straight edge extending substantially across-the same, of a pair of endless means connected to opposite ends of the straight edge, means supporting said endless meansremote from the board ported upon the back of the board and having an elongated midpo'rtion'for positioning adjacent the shaft for carrying purposes and tiltable therefrom for supporting the board in tilted relation, said supporting means for said endless means including sprockets associated with said endless means adjacent one edge of the board, other sprocket vergingly directed.

board and operatively associated with the endless means, bracket means supporting said last mentioned sprocket means, and means clampingly associating saidbraoket means and sprocket meansfor predetermined fixed positioning of said straight edge.

9. In combination with a drafting board and a straight edge extending substantially across the same, of a pair of endless means connected to opposite ends of the straight edge, means supportingsaid endless means remote from the board including a shaft substantially parallel to the board edge, a U-shaped member pivotally sup-- ported upon the back of the board and having an elongated midportion for positioning adjacent the shaft for carrying purposes and tiltable therefrom for supporting the board'in tilted relation, said supporting means for said endless means includingsprockets associated'with said endless means adjacent one edge of the board, other sprocket means supported adjacent the other edge of the board and operatively asso-' ciated with the endless means, bracket means supporting said last mentioned sprocket means, and means clampingly associating said bracket meansand sprocket means for predetermined fixed positioning of said straight edge, said bracket means including a strap supported by the back of the board and projecting beyond the edge thereof and terminating ina threaded loop, said last mentioned sprocketmeans including a hub and sprocket construction and said clamping means including a wing type screw bolt having a cylindricalportion for rotatably supporting the hub and sprocket, the sprocket hub laterally engaging the'side of the bracket, said bolt having an enlarged portion engaging the face of the sprocket, and a threaded portion extending into.

the threaded loop portion of the bracket and threadedly mounted therein.

10. In a drafting board, the combination of a U-shaped member pivotally supported upon the back of the board and having an elongated midportion, and means slidably mounted upon each arm of the U-shaped member and'operatively associated with the board for sustaining the U- shaped member in tilted relation relative to the board forsupporting the latter in tilted position.

11. A device as defined by claim 10, characterized by the arms of the U-shaped member being inclined relative to the midportion and di- 12. A device as defined by claim 10, characterized by the addition of stop means upon each of the arms adjacent the midportion for limiting the movement of the slidable member-steward the midportion. a a

13. A device as, defined-by claim 10, characterized by the addition of stop means upon each of the arms adjacent the midportion for limiting the movement of the slidable members toward the midportion, and the arms of the U-shaped member being inclined relative to the midportion and divergingly directed. I

v JAMES H. REICHART. 

